Liquid-elevating device



T. W. MURPHY. LIQUID ELEVATING DEVICE. 7 APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1920.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- Dayan/fan T. W. MURPHY. um ELEVATING DE 1,354,330, PatentedSept. 28,1920.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- T. W. MURPH'Y. LIQUID ELEVATJNG DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1920.

1 54,330, PatentedSept. 28, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Q m m l-7 fizz; e nio u 5; 755 flfiorrzega PATENT oEEIcE.

THOMAS W. MURPHY, OF EHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-ELEVATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed April 8, 1920. Serial No. 372,193.

To all 10 from it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Liquid-Elevating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for elevating liquids, especially acids and ale kalis, from a low level to a higher one, and has to do more particularly with an automatic valve device designed to act in conjunction with the necessary tanks, piping, etc, for utilizing compressed airior this purpose.

(his object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple apparatus of the above noted type which shall eliminate or avoid the use of stuffing boxes and which shall be subject to a minimum of wear and tear by reason of its movable parts being so arranged as torequire but relatively limited movement under operating conditions.

It is further desired to provide a liquid elevating apparatus, which by reason of: certain novel constr -ctions and connections, shall be capable of combining in one structure a liquid check and a valve for controlling the flow of both the hi h pressureand the displaced air ;the arrangement of parts being such as to materially reduce the cost of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air actuated device Ior intermittently raising bodies of liquid, which, even when combined with the liquid check, shall be materially lighter in weight than has hitherto been the case with similar apparatus of the same class and capacity.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation to some extent diagrammatic, illustrating a liquid elevating system including my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the casing for the controlling valve and its associated parts;

Figs. 3, l and 5 are transverse sections on the lines 33,4 l-, 55, Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating a slightly modified form ofthe ports and the associated structures for directing the displaced air in its flow through the controlling valve member.

In Fig. 1 01 the above drawings, 1 represents a supply reservoir or tank and 2 a receiving tank at a higher level than the tank 1, to which the liquid from the latter is to be delivered. F or this purpose there is provided an inclosed blow tank 3 suitably supported at a level below the tank 1 in such a position that liquid may flow to it under the action of ravity through a conduit 4 in which is connected an automatic valve whose casing is indicated at 50. This casing is preferably mounted on and its lower end communicates with, the blow tank 3 and it is also connected through a vent pipe 9 with the top of the supply tank 1, although it may be connected to any other point suitable for the free discharge of the air displaced from the blow tank.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, the valve casing 50 consists of three suitably connected parts or sections 5, 6 and 7, of which the lowest is connected to the blow tank 3 and the topmost is connected to the conduit 4. The lowest section 7 or the casing has formed in it a vertical passage lO, at whose upper end is a conical seat 11 for coaction with a correspondingly formed plug or float 12 which serves as a valve member. Surrounding the upper part i the passage 10, in the present case concentrically therewith, is an annular channel 13 connecting with it through a suitable number of radial ports 14: and designed for connection at 15 with any suitable source of supply of air under pressure. In the presentcase, the two ports 14 open into the passage 10 on the conical seat 11 at points opposite to each other and equidistant from the air inlet 15 ;it being noted that said seat is formed by the inner ends of a number of radially extending, more or less solid, arms or ribs which project into the enlarged upper end of the passage 10, and that the ports 14: open on these valve engaging faces.

In accordance with one form of my in vention, the upper portion of the valve or float 12 is also conically formed as indicated at 16, and cooperates with a conical seat 17 formed in the casing section 6 concentrically with the passage 10 of the section 7. This seat has formed in it a number of ports cornmunicat 1g with an annular channel which connects with the entrance to the exhaust or vent pipe 9 ;the casing sections 6 and 7, cooperating to form a chamber in which the valve member 12 is verticall movable between two extreme positions. In

' without depart ng from my invention.

the lower of these it engages the scat ll'so as to close the ports 14;, while in the upper position itengages the seat 17 and cuts oil arrangement of the seat 17 with its portsmay be widely varied without departing from my invention, and in Fig. 6 I have shown such avariation in which the easing section 6 is formed to provide a flat valve seat 17 for coaction with the similarly flat upper end of the valve member 12 The annular port 18 leading to the channel 18 opens 011 this flat seat through a number of holes and as before said valve member will prevent the escape ofhigh pressure air whenin its upper or raised position, while permitting relatively free and unrestricted discharge of air displaced from the blow tank when in its lower position.

' A pipe19 has its end suitably turned over as in Fig; 2 or is flanged as in Fig. 6, so as to be supported with said end at or adjacent the plane of junction of the casing sections 5 and '6, from which it extends down concentrically through the sections 6 and 7 and through 1 the valve memberfl2 and passage 10 to a point substantially below the lower face of the section 7;-bei so arranged as to prevent liquid flowing intothe top of the valve casing 50:11pm reaching or acting on the top of the valve provided by the float or hollow plug 12. Said pipe not only passes loosely through the valve member 12 but likewise cooperates with the casing section 7 to provide an aunular passage 1O for the displaced or enhaustedair flowing from the blow case 3 to theexhaust ports 18 leadinginto the channel'18. V V

In the top part of the section 5 of the casing which is formed with a passage 20 in line with the pipe 19, I provide an annular valve seat 21, below which are formed vertically extending passages 22 whereby under certain conditions liquid may pass around a check valve 23 mounted in said passage below'said seat. This valve consists of a flat disk carried through vertical ribs 26 by a ring 25 which rests on the top face of the casing section 6 and supports said valve a short distance below the.

seat 21. It is to be understood however, that while in some cases I employ this check valve 23 as shown in 'Fig. 2, it may be 'omitted -from the valve casing and this or any other desired type 01 check valve placed at any other suitable point in the system While obviously the above described casing and valve members may be made of:

any desired material, I preferably construct them' of lead or other non-corrodible substance when the apparatus is intended for elevating acids, alkalis or the like, for which use it is especially available owing to the absence otthe' stuffing boxes such as are necessary when pumps are employed and also because of the comparatively slight and limited movement required by its parts 12 chamber for the valve member 12, which however at all times is acted on by the upward force due to the pressure of said a1r.

When it is desired to transfer liquid from the tank 1 to the tank 2, I open a suitable stop valve. 30 in the conduit 4i and permit liquid to flow from the former tank through said conduit into the valve casing 50. On entering this, such liquid strikes the part 24 of the check valve 23 and passes around it through the passages formed by the ribs 22, from whence it flows between the ribs 25 and into and through the pipe 19 to the blow case 3 without in any way acting onthe' valve member 12. The air displaced by the rise of this liquid in said blow case escapes through: the passage 10 around the pipe 19 and thence between the latter a d the valve member 12, through the ports 18 Fig. 2, or throughthe ports 18 Fig. 6, into the channel 18, from whence it flows through the vent pipe. 9 to the'top' oft-the sup ly tank 1 or to any other point of free disc arge. a

The flow of liquid from the tank'l continues until the blow case 3 is filled, after which said liquid rises through the passage 10 until it strikes the bottom of the hollow valve member 12 which is already acted on by the air under pressure in the'ports 14. As a result of the impact upon it of this liquid, said valve member is raised from its seat upon the arms or'ribs11, thereby permitting air under relatively high pressure to enter the valvechamber through the ports 14, with the result that the valve member 12 is forcibly moved up into gagement with'and held on its seat the top of the casing section 6, thus cutting oh" the further escape of air into the channel 18 and vent pipe 9. The high pressure air also acts on the liquid in the lower part of the valve casing causing seating or the check valve 23 and forcingsaid liquid through the discharge pipe 8 into the receiving tank 2; The-valve emptied that the compressed air escapes through the discharge pipe 8, which is usually carried down to or connected into the bottom of the blow tank.

Since the air ports 14 are much less. in area than the annular passage 10 and the dischar e pi e 8 the resultin sudden fall.

b L 7 b 01 pressure in the valve casing due to this escape of air through the pipe 8 allows the valve member 12 to drop so as to again close said air )orts 14 and open the exhaust ports 18 leading to the pipe 9. Since the pressure on the check valve 23 is also released, it opens and again ermits liquid to flow from the supply tan: to the blow tank, until this is filled. Thereupon the liquid rises in the valve casing 50;strikes and unseats the valve member 12, and is discharged into the receiving tank as before described.

It is particularly to be noted that by reason of the construction above described the liquid flowing into the casing can in no way interfere with the operation of the valve member 12, which regardless of saidtlow. is raised from its seat by the impact of the liquid rising in the passage 10 and is moved to and held in a position closing the exhaust ports by the action of the high pressure air thus'admitted. This action is assisted and rendered more certain by making the cross sectionalarea of the passage or channel 10 around the pipe 19 considerably greater than the area of the passage through the valves 12 so that this latter is forced up by the inflowing liquid which enters the space below it more rapidly than it can flow out of the same between the pipe 19 and said valve.

I claim:

1. The combination in a liquid elevating apparatus of a source of liquid; a blow tank; a casing connectedto the blow tank; a valve in said casing for controlling the delivery of compressed air to the blow tank; a conduit extending through the valve for delivering liquid from said source to said blow tank; and a delivery pipe from, said tank.

2. The combination in a liquid elevating apparatus of a source of liquid; a blow tank; a casing having a pipe connected to said source and delivering to the blow tank; a valve operative on the pipe and controlling the delivery of compressed air to the blow tank; with a delivery pipe from said tank. p

3. The combination in a liquid elevating apparatus of a source of liquid; a blow tank; a conduit connecting said source and tank; an air controlling valve in said conduit; means for conducting liquid from the source through said valve to the tank; and

a delivery pipe for the tank.

4. The combination in a liquid elevating outlet port duri apparatus of a source of liquid; a blow tank; a conduit connecting said source with said tank and including a casing havin. an air outlet port and a con pressed air inlet; with a single valve member the casing normally closing the compressed inlet and movable into position to close the au' the flow of air iron'i the inlet to the tank.

The combination in a liquid aevat' apparatus oi a source of liquid; bloc tank; a conduit connecting said source with said tank and including casing having an air outlet port and a compressed air inlet; a single valve member in the cas inally closing the compressed air lI'W movable into position to close the air out. .t i 4 port during the flow of air i rom the ii to the tank; with means for conductin' liquid through the casing independently oi said valve.

6. The combination in a liquid elevat ng apparatus oi liquid source; a blow a conduit including a casing for connecting said source with said tank; a check valve in the casing for preventing flow therefrom toward the liquid source; and a vac-we in the casing for controlling the flow of air unc er pressure to the tank, said casing having an air exhaust passage also controlled by said latter valvef '1 7. The combination in a. liquid elevating apparatus oi a liquid source; a blow tank a casing connected both to said source to said tank having a compressed air 1' and an air exhaust port; a valve in the cos ing normally closing the compressed air port and positioned to be unseated by im pact of liquid enterin the casing from the tank, said valve being movable from a position closing the compressed air port to a position closing the air exhaust port; with means for conducting liquid from the source to the blow tank through. said valve.

8. The combination in a liquid elevating apparatus of a liquid source; a blow tank; means for connecting said source with the tank including a casing having a valve chamber; a conduit passing through said chamber; an annular valve operative on said conduit; and seats in the chamber positioned to be engaged by the valve at the two extremes of its movement, for controlling the flow of air under pressure to the casing and the exhaust of displaced air therefrom.

compressed air; a valve member in the caslng normally closing the air inlet; and

means for conveying liquid through the casing from the inlet to the outletthrough said valve member there being an air exhaust jort in the casin aositioned to be closed b V said valve member under operating conditions.

11. The combination of a casing having a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet and an inlet for compressed air; a valve member in 'thecasing normally closing the air inlet; means for conveying liquid through the casing irom the inlet to the outlet through sa d valve member, there being an a r exhaust port in the casing positioned to be clo'sed by said valve member under operating conditions; with a second valve in the caslng tor preventing flow 0t thud through the mlet when the valve is in positionto close sald exhaust port.

12. A controlling device for aliquid elevating system consisting of a casing having an inlet and'an outlet for liquid, an inlet -for compressed air and an outlet for displaced air; a valve member mounted in the casing to control the air inlet and air out let; and means for leading llquld through the casing. in one direction independently of the valve member. r o

14:. A casing having air inlet and exhaust ports and an inlet and an outlet for liquid;

a valve normally closing the air inlet port and movable into position to close the exhaust port; with a conduit ext-ending through the valve in position to permit ac- Cess of liquid thereto from one of the liquid openings, while preventing such access of liquid from the other opening.

15. A controlling device for a liquid elevating system consisting of a casing having a valvechamber, inlet and outlet passages for air and an inlet. port for liquid; a conduit positioned to receive liquid from the liquid inlet passage and extending throng". the air outlet passage; with a valve in the chamber placed to close the air inlet when in one position and to close the air outlet when in the other position. I

16. A controlling device for a liquid elevating system consisting of a casing having through passage including two chambers; a check valve. in one of said chambers for preventing hquid flow 1n one. direction through the passage; a conduit leading from said chamber to theoutside of the cas ng,

there being air inlet and exhaust ports opening into. the second chamber; with a valve in the second chamber controlling the flow of through said ports and positioned to be unseated by liquid entering the casing through that 'part'ot the passage relatively distantfrom said first valve. In Witnesswhereof I aflixniv signature.

THOMAS W. MURPHY. 

